Archaeological site · Fatimid · 1092
A Fatimid gate carrying Mamluk minarets.
Cairo
A Fatimid gate beneath Al-Muayyad's minarets, linking the Ghuri area and Khayamiya, with climbing subject to site arrangements.
Get to know this place
Archaeological site · Fatimid · Built 1092
Bab Zuweila marked the southern edge of Fatimid Cairo when Badr al-Jamali built it in 1092. As the city expanded, streets grew around it. People, goods and processions passed beneath its arch, and in 1517 it became the setting for the execution of Tuman Bay, the last Mamluk sultan of Egypt.
In the fifteenth century, the minarets of al-Muayyad Shaykh’s mosque were built on its towers, joining a defensive gateway to a place of worship. At street level, thick stonework and the deep entrance reveal a threshold that survived long after Cairo outgrew its boundary.
Details worth pausing for
Gate towers
Al-Muayyad minarets
Passage
Views when accessible
Hours, prices and practical details
Prices in EGP and subject to change. Confirm with the venue before visiting.
Tips and things to know
Confirm the climbing route before buying admission.
Good to know
Address and directions
Bab Zuweila, Darb al-Ahmar, Cairo
Nearest landmark: Al-Darb al-Ahmar
Nearest metro: Bab El-Shaaria
The best route depends on your starting point. Navigate to Bab Zuweila, Darb al-Ahmar, Cairo; for Historic Cairo sites, expect to walk the final part through narrow streets.
Get directions ↗The places closest to Bab Zuweila, to make a day of it.
Al-Muayyad MosqueA mosque built into the memory of a gate and a prison.50 m · about 1 min on foot
Khayamiya StreetA craft visible in each stitch.50 m · about 1 min on foot
Al-Salih Talai MosqueLate Fatimid Cairo at Bab Zuwayla.100 m · about 1 min on foot
Distances and times are estimates from where each place sits on the map; the actual route may differ.
Stops close to each other, in an order we tried. Follow it as it is, or make it your own.
Photo: الراوي · © Darb Egypt
A suggested route · Heritage
A walk through the heart of Fatimid Cairo, from its northern gate to its southern one: mosques, sabils, houses and markets along a single street. Best from late afternoon into sunset, and special on Ramadan nights.
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